AIR--_"The Banks o' the Dee."_

The sweets o' the simmer invite us to wander

Amang the wild flowers, as they deck the green lea,

An' by the clear burnies that sweetly meander,

To charm us, as hameward they rin to the sea;

The nestlin's are fain the saft wing to be tryin',

As fondly the dam the adventure is eyein',

An' teachin' her notes, while wi' food she 's supplyin'

Her tender young offspring, like Maggie an' me.

The corn in full ear, is now promisin' plenty,

The red clusterin' row'ns bend the witch-scarrin' tree,

While lapt in its leaves lies the strawberry dainty,

As shy to receive the embrace o' the bee.

Then hope, come alang, an' our steps will be pleasant,

The future, by thee, is made almost the present;

Thou frien' o' the prince an' thou frien' o' the peasant,

Thou lang hast befriended my Maggie an' me.

Ere life was in bloom we had love in our glances,

An' aft I had mine o' her bonnie blue e'e,

We needit nae art to engage our young fancies,

'Twas done ere we kent, an' we own't it wi' glee.

Now pleased, an' aye wishin' to please ane anither,

We 've pass'd twenty years since we buckled thegither,

An' ten bonnie bairns, lispin' faither an' mither,

Hae toddled fu' fain atween Maggie an' me.

The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume 2. The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century · 第 260 / 298 题